Product Description
Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch
Varieties
100% Grenache Noir
The Vineyard
These vineyards are situated on the farm DeMorgenzon in the Stellenboschkloof. Soils are mostly weathered granite which gives the resultant wines a natural exuberance and youthful vigour. The trellised vineyards are managed to ensure natural high acidity and full flavour concentration. Grenache vineyards are planted on warmer sites with poorer soils with high clay percentages.
The Harvest
2018 was dry vintage in the Cape. Thunderstorms in early spring added a lot of Nitrogen to the soils resulting in very healthy canopies entering the growing season. The daytime temperatures during the ripening period were cooler than what was experienced in the very hot 2016 and 2017 vintages, with relatively cool evenings. Conditions were very dry though, with vine stress management being key to success. Fruit harvesting tended to be very early in 2018, with a focus on bringing fruit into the winery with lower sugar levels and lower pH levels.
The Cellar
Fruit was carefully hand sorted and naturally fermented, whole berry with a percentage of whole bunches added to the fermenters. Post fermentation maceration was allowed for two weeks, followed by gentle pressing. Maturation was for a total of 18 months in French oak, in a selection of old 300 litre and 500 litre casks. The wine was bottled with minimal fining and filtration.
Winemaker: Carl van der Merwe
Alcohol content : 14.06 vol%
TA : 4.1 g/l
pH : 3.66
RS : 2.3 g/l
Awards
2016
92 Points Tim Atkin MW South Africa 2018
2015
4 Stars Platter’s Wine Guide 2018
89 Points Tim Atkin MW South Africa Report 2017
2014
90 Points Neal Martin for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 2016
